T-Mobile reportedly ending carrier subsidies in 2013

Folks, if you love how you could pick up a relatively inexpensive phone from T-Mobile thanks to the carrier offering a subsidy for the device, come 2013 it looks like that will no longer be happening. According to the folks at Fierce Wireless, they are reporting that T-Mobile will be removing device subsidies from their rate plans starting in 2013. This does not mean that you will have to pay full retail price – well actually you will, but T-Mobile has structured it in such a way that your upfront payment would basically be the equivalent of a subsidized device, i.e. $99 with a two-year contract, but on top of that customers are expected to make repayments for the phone over the duration of the contract in the form of installments. T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere also stated that the carrier will not be adversely affected by these changes. What do you guys think? Will this affect your decision to sign on with T-Mobile for your next device?